Power coupling means



Oct. 1, 1946. w. ci. wEANl-:R A l 2,403,497

' POWER coUPLING MEANSv I f yFiled may 9, 1945 'r sheets-.snaai` 1 Tij.

Oct. 1, 19m.l

w. c. wE'ANER POWER CQUPLING' MEANS v 'Filed May .9, 1945 '7Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct 1,1946- u w. c. wEANER 42,408,497 POWER coUPLINGMEANS Filed-May 9, 1945 7 sheets-sheet :5

' 'ML `rm? h/FANE/g 5' grae/vin I' Oct. l, 1946.

W'. C. WEANER POWER COUPLIQNG` MEANS Filedl Ma'y 9, -1945 7 Sheets-Sheet4 sa, l Z/-W/vro, 8 M1. me C v MME/ Oct. 1,4 1946f w. c. wEANl-:R2,408,497 POWER coUPL-ING MEANS I v l Filed May 9, 1945 7 seetsfsheet 5M4715@ C WFM/@ Er M M15/W,

(n In @Toe/vin Oct. 1, 1946. w. c. wl-:ANER 2,408,497

- l PQwER couPLINQ-MEANS K l Filed May 9, 1945 fr sheets-sheet 7Vintended Oct. 1,1946

j :l 2,408,49'1 rowERcoUrLrNG MEANS n Walter Wcancr, Muncie, Ind.Application May 9,1945,"Sverial No.'592,9i)4` This invention relates toa hydraulic power transmission device bilizer having one particularapplication as a an autotion embodies a number of decidedadvantages inconjunction with aistaincluding a positive mechanical interconnection Yfor starting the vehicle into motion under suchv conditions Awhere asimple would fail to do so, rectly interconnect hydraulic coupling inorder to start the power engine; the stabilizing of Avarious parts topermit'gear'speedlor direction changes and toV reducetorsionalvibration; and

to maintaina coupling between the'driving and driven members throughoutyan extremely wide range of speedsA under variable power loads.

A further importa-nt advantageof the inven# tion is found in theparticular mechanicalv construction of the driving -impeller and driventrbine wheel of the coupling providing not only for very eiiectivecouplingtherebetween but also permitting easy construction and assemblyof those' l and manyother objects' and advantages' Vof the inventionwill become apparent 'to 'those` parts.

These versedY in the art in the following description of one particular`form of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich verse section;

Fig. 2, a View in vertical longitudinal 'section on the line 2-2 in Fig.1;

Fig. 3, a viewin vertical transverse sectionY on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2;

- Fig. 4, a view on an enlarged scale in detail and in verticallongitudinal section of the positive y interlocking mechanism betweenthe driving im"- peller and the driven tur ine wheel;l

Fig. 5, a transverse section in Fig.

Fig. 5-6 in Fig. 4;

Fig. '1, a detail in side' elevation 0f the dogamrn dog receiving rings;f

` Fig. S, a vertical transverse section on the line;

Fig. 9, a view in vertical longitudinal sectionA on the line 9-#9 inFig. 1 showing a 'direct drive connection between chanical transmissionFig. 10, a sectional-view Aon to a driven shaft;

or where it is desirableto di-vk .the engine with the drive'. wheelsshould it be desired topush the vehiclel 4 Y 6, al vertical transversesection on the line the same lineibllt with the mechanicaltransmission,y drive disen-v gagedfromtheuiddrive; f y g outer wall 25also normal to theY axis of rota-tion ofthe memberl 2l. From thetoutercircumfer-i ential portion of this wall 25the wall bulgesout'-v 42.therefrom to curve around' 30, Fig. Lis a view in top plan and partialtrans the fluid drive through amer?.

'member 2l from under the Fig. 11,v a similar vsectional view on theline 8-8 in Fig.1 showing the mechanical transmis sion parts shiftedto areverse direction driv e;

Fig.` 12, a vertical transverse section ori-the Fig.` 13, a view in endside elevation of one side of the driving impeller with'fragments brokenaway to disclose under details;

Fig. 14, adetail in vsection on the line-Ill-fll inFig. 13; 'l

Fig. 15, a detail in section on the line',` I'5-'l5 inFig. 13; 'f

Fig; 16, a view in front elevation of the driven vturbine wheel;

Fig. 17, afview in side cia bucket or and Fig. 18, vane.l

Like characters of reference indicate likerparts throughout the severalviews in the drawings.

f I form' a 'driving' impeller generally designated by the numeral 20 toconsist-of two members '2l and 22 bolted one to the other'throughannular anges 23 and 24 about a mid-plane between the two members'2l and22 normal to the raxis of rotation. Referring l theimpeller member 2l'has a ycentral lplanar wardlyzby'a portion andback inwardlyto-terminate in the ilange 23.

spaced. `apart circumrerentially around the outer bulgingperipheralportion of vthe member' 2|- are aplurality of radially positioned vanes'26 fixed to' themember 2l vto have a gradually increasing elevation inrespect to the wall of the ange'23 to the junctureof the bulge portionfthe member 2l with the planar wall 25:VV In each instance, from thispart of the Vane to curveconvexly forwardly in the f' directionof"rotation 'from the plane ofthe straight portion ofv the vane, toterminate by an end 21spaced fromthe central. hubk 28 'Whch turnsinwardly from thewall 25.- l K Thenfacross the arcuate portions of thev-anes 2,6 is -a circular plate 29 peripheraledge at the junctures ofarcuate portions ,of thevanes.; 'I 'hiSplate-ZS is provided ywith acentral annular'opening 3B to providean entrance around the hub v2liradially into the spaces be'-V terminating by Yits outer elevation 4fromthe concave blade of lthe turbine wheel;

a view in outer end elevation offthe to Figs. 2 and "13 primarily,"

26,l the vane continuesin a iixed` elevational dimension 'non-radially,to be `arcuate the radial andl through that opening-and tween the inner-terminal ends of the vanes 2S. As indicated in Fig. 13, the adjacentvanes 26 terminate by inner closely spaced apart ends and divergetherefrom throughout the arcuate lengths and between the radiallyoutwardly disposed parts. In the same manner the member 22 is formed tocarry vanes 3| of the same dimensions and configurations as -those ofthe varies 25, the two sets of vanes 26 and 3| being one left hand inrespect to a righ-t hand of the other in reference to the arcuateinwardly extending portions of the respective vanes. In other words, thearcuate portions of the vanes 3| have their convex sides directed in theintended direction of rtation of the driving impeller as a whole.v

The member 22 has a central hub 32 which is mounted on a driving shaft33 to have a mechanical driving connection therebetween, herein shown asby means of a spline nt. The inner terminal ends 34 of the varies 3| arespaced from the hub 32 and are inclined to slope upwardly and outwardlyin vrespect tothe inner end of the hub 32. In this respect the ends 21of the vanes 26 slope likewise from the wall in a diverging mannertoward the plate 29 from the circumfer'` ential face of the hub 28.The'arcuate portions of the vanes 3| are enclosed between the planarwall 35 of the member 22 and a circular plate 36 being a counter-part ofthe plate 29 employed in conjunction with the vanes 26. The plates. 29and 35 are spaced apart, one parallelwith the other.

Between the hubs 28 and members 31 and 38 between which-is clamped aturbine wheel plate 39 to be centrally positioned thereby between thevane plates 29 and 36. The hub members 31 and 33 are fixed on a shaitv4|! which axially and rotatably extends through the hub 28. The turbinewheel plate 39 is positioned to revolve in the space between the vaneplates 29 and 36 inalignment with an annular plate 4| that is clampedacross the outer opposing yends of the vanes 26 and 3|, the plate 4|being gripped between the members 2| and 22. The peripheral edge of theturbine wheel plate 39 is in approxi#- mate running nt with .the inneredge portion of the annular plate 4|. l

The turbine wheel plate 39 is provided with a plurality of radial slots43 aroundits peripheral margin. Into each' of these slots 43` is slippedthe web 44 of a bucket 45, Fig. 16. Each bucket 45, Figs. 16-18, is ineffect a pair of cups 46 and 41, one on each side of the web 44 andextending around therefrom in a leadingdirection of rotation of theplate 39. Each cup portion 46 and 41 has an attaching leg 48 and 49respectively extending along the respective faces of the plate 39 andthe bucket as a whole is securedto the plate by passing a bolt 59through both of those legs and the intervening plate 39. Preferably,these .cups 46 and 41have a maximum depth adjacent their outerperipheral ends in respect to the periphery of the plate 39, and fromthat maximum depth the cups slope with'agradually decreasing depth tofade out on the radial line of the trailing side of the web 44 and thevlegs 43 andv 49. In the presentA form of the invention, there are anequal number of buckets 45 in comparison to the number of sets of va-nes26 and '3|,` that is, with l16 buckets on the plate 39, there are 16varies 25 and 16 vanes 3 |.y This number is given simply` as an examplewithout any limitation ofthein' vention being thereby imposed'. Theperipheral margins o-f the cups 46 and 41 have a configura'-V tion toconform closely .to the arcuate inner edges 32 are mounted hub 4 plates2S and 3| which are radially exposed beyond the plates 29 and 3B so thatthere may be but very little slippage of fluid around those cup marginsand the opposing edges of the vanes. As indicated in Fig. 2, the plates29 and 35 terminate in close proximity to the margins of the two cups 46and 41 in each instance and then the attaching legs 48 and 49 curveinwardly rapidly .to the plate 39.

Preferably an overall housing 5| encloses the driving impeller and thedriven turbine wheel assembled as so far described. This housing 5|'rotatably carries the driving shaft 33 through any suitable bearingmeans 52. On the rear side l5 of the housing 5| is rotatably mounted ahub 53 rotatably carried vby a suitable bearing 54 mounted in thehousing 5|. The shaft 49 which is driven y by the `turbine wheel plate39 is drivingly interconnected and supported by the hub 53 by anysuitable means, herein shown as by means of a splinedtff. :i L

The driving impeller thus driven by the shaft 33 is free to revolvearound the centrally enclosed driven turbine wheel. Means are providedvfor positive mechanical interlocking the iinpellerl and the turbineWheel one with the other whereby there isa direct mechanical drive fromthegshaft 33 through various interconnecting members to the driven shaft49. This means is primarily shown-in Figs. 3-7. Around the inner face ofAthe hub 32 is mounted a ring-55 to be xed theretofin any suitablemanner. This ring 55 is" notched out to receive a plurality of dogs 56,herein shown as three in number. Each dog is normally lfree to'revolveabout a central, radial axis of a suitable pin, herein shown asconstituting a cap screw 51. 1 The Vdog v`56 is mounted in each instanceto have eitherv end thereof rocked beyond the outer plane of the ring 55which is normal to the axis of the hub 32. j

To control the rocking of these dogs 55, each one is engaged by a rod 58which is slidingly mounted" in the hub32 to permit longitudinal shiftingthereof.- Each shaft 59 passes through a well 59, Fig. a, provided inthe hub 32 to have a compression spring Se on one side of a transverseabutment 5|v iixed to the rod 58 substantially central of thegwell 5i),and a like compression spring E2 on the lother side of the abutment 6|.A nut 53 screw-threadedly enters the hub 32 co-axially of the rod .55and the well 69 not only to seal that well but also to provide means foradjusting the compression of the two springs 69 and 62. The position Vofthe abutment 6| along the red 5S is made to be such that the rodnormally holds the dog 55 inv each instance to have vboth ofits engagingends within the ring 55, at least so that there is'no projecting endbeyond the face of that ring 55.- Each of the 60 rods 58 is carried onforwardly of the hub 32 to be interengaged by a shifting ring 64.

The ring 64 is carried within an extension of the housing 5| andis-engaged by a shifting fork 65 rockably carried by the housing andvformed 65 to have an operating lever 56 externally 'of the housing. Byrocking the lever 66 forwardly; the rods 58 are pushed rearwardly toshift thegdogs to positions as indicated in 7. Shifting the lever 95rearwardly will cause the opposite end of 70v the dog 5t in eachinstance to' be exposed outside of the'ring 55 to the rear thereof. Onthe'hub 33 is 'provided a plurality of opposing 'abutments-Y 51 and Elivagainst which the 55 maybe selectively enof the opposing opposite endsof the deg gaged as determined by the direction ofv rocking the hub 3s.Thus of the lever r66. These abutmentslTfand |58V in the present form ofthe invention are herein shown asbeing provided ona ring 69Y secured toY y itisfto be seenv that thedriving impeller and thel driven turbinewheel may be interlocked in either direction of rotation in respect tothe axis of the shaft 33. The provision for theinterlocking in bothdirections'of rotationlis made toA provide not Vonly for interlockingthe two members together vwhen both are driven in unison from theshaft33, but' also to interlock -thosejtwo rnembersv together when the shaft3-3 4is drivenfrorh` theshaft 40. as the case rwould bewhen the vehicleis being pushed to turn` over'the engine'V that'is interconnected to theshaft 33, rfor engine starting purposes-in case v'they usual storagebattery kwould be unable to supply the necessary current as frequently'happens in cold weather or when the battery is in such a state ofdischarge as to be inoperable. The ring 69 preferably has the inclinedsurfaces 'ljand 1| respectively sloping inwardly of the ring 69 towardthe respective abutments `|51 and B8 to facilitate the sliding entrancesthereagainst of the ends f the` dog 5S to .permit them to Vcome intoVengagement with the abutments as the case may be. L s v From the rear oflthe housing extends a e a havingv an internal Vvmeshed the teeth oftransmission housing 12 wherein suitable changespeed gearing may becarried; A shaft 13 has its frontend journaled axially in the hub 53 totofthathub. This lshaft be rotatable in respect y v 13 by its vrear endin turn carries the pilot 14 of the nalA drive shaft 15, a lengthof'which extends rearwardly outside of the housing 12 and is rotatablysupported by any suitable. bearing, such as the ball bearing 16 housingend. Preferablyn the shaft 13 is rotatably Silppolted by abearing111carried inside 0f the housing 1.2 spaced substantially intermediateof theends of the shaft 13.

lA sleeve'i is `mounted on the forward end of the `shaft 13 tolbeshiftable therealong 1out to be `revolved therewith, the sleeve 18vbeing herein shown as interconnected with the shaft 13 by means oflongitudinallyV aligned splines. Fixed to the front end ofthe sleeve 18is a toothed wheel 19 so formed that' its teeth willintermesh withtheinternal teeth 88 formed within the hub 53 to afford a drivingconnection therewith,

the'whea 19 being showne'ngaged with thehun carried by the rear Il Oteeth 39 in Figs. l, 29, and ll, and disengaged therefrom in Fig. 10.

On the rear end n grooved shifting wheel 8| a shifting fork 82lrockablyr carried transversely of the transmission housing 12. Byrocking the fork 82, the'sleeve 18 may be shaft 13 to mesh the wheel 19in thehub 53 orto of the sleeve 12|V is fixed a with the' teeth which isengaged by= shifted longitudi.

shift the g' sleeve'18 in reverse direction to disengage the f wheel-Vr19 from the'` teethgil. Normally', the sleeve 18 isA urged to'itsVforward position by means ofv a compression spring'83'helicallysurrounding the shaft -13 to'have its ends bearing between the web 84 inthe housing 12 and the rear end of the sleeve 19. This spring 93therefore tends to maintain the wheel Y1.9 in driving engagement withthe hub 53, and only by the rocking of the fork"- 82 to cause the sleeve18 to travel rearwardly to compress kthat spring 83 friction ring maythedrive between the wheel 19 and the hub 53 be interrupted.

A disengaging drive connection is` provided between the'rear end oftheshaft 13 and the yfixed to the'v sleeve 85 '92 is fixed a spur gearthe path of the teeth ofand itA is no-t necessaryy vdisc 99, hereinshown as iinal-d'rvefshaft 15.5 In the form herein shown thisconnectionconsists of a sleeve 85 longitudinally shiftable along the shaft 13 and'drivingly connected therewith by any suitable means, such as by rthesplines 86; 'a gear wheel B1 fixed on the rear end of the sleeve 35; agear wheel 88 gear 89 into which may be the gear wheel 81.; and meansfor shifting the sleeve 85 to carry thewheel 81 into and out ofv meshwith` those teeth 89. A springv |3|lnormally maintains the meshedposition. f

rThis means for shifting the sleeveV 65 in the present showing consistsof a grooved wheel 99 and interengaged byv the shifter fork 9| which isrockably carried transversely of the transmission housing 12. Theprimary purpose for providing this disengaging connecting means betweenther shaft "i3 and the a reverse direction of drive between those twoshafts. A standard form of achieving this reverse drive is shown hereinwhere a jack shaftv 92 is longitudinally mounted within the housing 12stant mesh with wheel 88. a Toward shaft 15 is to permit the externalteeth` 34 of the gear the forward end of the shaft 95 to have its teethin the spur gear 95 which is mounted onv the forward end 0f the sleeve85. By vsuitable rocking of the fork 9|, the sleeve 85 may be shiftedforwardly along the shaft 13y to disengage the teeth of the wheel 81from the teeth 89, and to engage the teethA of the wheel 96 with theteeth of the'wh'eel S5 so that the drive then would be between the shaft13 through the two gears 95 and 95, the shaft 92 and the two'gears 93and 88 which is fixed to theshaft 15.

It is obvious that other change-speed gearing may be incorporatedvwithin the transmission housing 12 as may be desired, but such gearingdoes not specifically enter into my invention, to its operation andtherefore is not shown. However, I do provide what I term` a stabilizerof a clutch although no direct drive is taken therethrough. The purposeof this stabilizer is not only toi dampen out'vibrations, butalso tocontrol the `relative speeds between the shafts 15,13,Y and 45 to permitshifting from a neutral or no-'drive arrangement to a direct drivingconnection or to permit shifting of the various members to the reversedrive connection.

In the present showing, I mount a clutch plate 91 on the .hub -53 tohave a contact face in a plane normal to the V.axis of the shaft 13.Lon- `gitudinally sliding on the outside of the sleeve 18V is asecondsleeve 93 which is drivingly connected thereto in respect to rotarymovement by any suitable means, such as through splines. On theforwardend ofthe sleeve k98 Vis mounted a on a hub It() fixed to thesleeve 93. The Vperipheral margin of this disc 99 is Vprovided with aplurality of spaced apart notches lill across which engage slidinglydogs |92 that extend rearwardly fromva fioating plate planar face towhich is preferablyattached'a |94. The plate lil-3 is yieldinglyextended forwardly from the disc 9S by means of compression springs |55bearing 4between that plate and disc and surrounding cap screws |96 thatslidingly to have a spur vgear 93 in con-` which is in the nature y'|93. This floating plate Vconsists Y essentially of an annular ringhaving a forward extend rfrom thef rear side andA 7 through th'e disc Seto screw-threadedly engage the forward plate l Q3.

Fixed to the rear end of the sleeve 98 is a sleeve shifting groo-vedwheel` l? with which engages the shifting fork ltd that is transverselymounted across the housing 'i2 and from which extends externally of thehousing 'l2 by a shaft i carrying an operating lever H9. In order tomaintain the stabilizer thus described in a released or inoperativeposition, a compression spring ill surrounds the sleeve 93 to bearbetween the wheel FS and the end of the sleeve 98 tending to urge thesleeve S8 rearwardly, and a second compression spring H2 surrounds thesleeve Q3 to bear between a transverse web- H3 of the housing l2 and thefront side of theshifting wheel |57. These two springs lil and H2 are sodesigned that th'ey will normally hold the friction ring let spaced fromthe plate 9'! as indicatedin Fig. 2.

Assuming as one application of the invention to be employed as acoupling between the engine and the rear wheel drive shaft in anautomobile, the engine (not shown) will be directly coupled to the shaft33 so that at all times when the engine is operating, the drivingimpeller 2@ will be turning, and in fact will serve in the nature of a ywheel. A suitable liquid having the characteristics commonly found forsuch purposes is placed within the impeller 2d which is then sealedvagainst leakage o-f the liquid therefrom. The iinpeller, of course, isonly par tialiy filled. By reason of the fluid being within the impellerit will tend to be thrown to the outer bulged peripheral portion thereofalong both sets of varies 25 and 3i, and by reason of the shape of thoseblades throughout their lengths and in the bulged portion of theimpeller, the fluid will be tended to be forced into the concaveportions of the buckets and 4l' to canse in eiect an interlockingthrough the fluid between the driving impeller 29 and the driven turbinewheel which is composed of the turbine wheel plate 3@ and the buckets 45car ried thereon. Under some conditions there will, of course, be someslippage between those two elements, that is, one may turn at a,diiferent speed from the other, depending upon the loads and drivingoperations. At extremely llow speeds of the engine, of course, there maybe no driving power developed as between those two elements.

The hub turns with the driven turbine wheel and with the parts in thepositions indicated in Fig. 2, the shaft l will be likewise turned atsub-- stantialiy the same speed. This shaft connects in the usual manner(not shown) with the drive shaft to the rear axle of the automobile.Normally, the drive thus formed is sufficient for most conditions ofmoving the automobile. To interrupt that drive to permit the car to cometo a stop, the shifting fork 82 is rocked to pull the gear wheel i9 out-of mesh with the teeth provided in the hub 53 as indicated in Fig. l0.In order to simplify the control of the shifting of this wheel 'i9 andalso of the reverse gears, I provide a shifting cam |55 which is fixedon a shaft H5 transversely extending across and within the transmissionhousing 'i2 intermediate the shifting forks S2 and 9i. One end of theshaft H55 extends laterally from the transmission housing l2 to carry anexternally mounted operating lever lil.

The cam i l5 carries cam slots liti and HS in the respective fore andaft end portions thereof. From the shifting fork 82 extends a lever |20to i into the neutral position,

8 have a `finger enteringl into the slot .||8. vFrom the shifting fork9| extends a lever |2| which has a finger entering the slot H9. Theseslots are formed to rock the two shifting forks-82 and el in the desireddegree oftravel vupon rocking the lever As indicated in Fig. 10, the cam5 is rocked to a neutral position which is that position where the slot8 has guided the ringer of the lever |20 to swing the shifting fork S2rearwardly to withdraw the gear wheel 'I9 from the hub 53 as aboveindicated. At the same time, the lever lf2-i has not been rocked-andtherefore the sleeve 85 has been leftin its normal rearwardly carriedposition as indicated in Figs. 1, .2 and 9 and 10. This is made possibleby reason of the fact that the upper portion of the slot H9 is arcuateand has a radius of curvature centering on the axis of the shaft H5. Thecentral portion of the slot IIS likewise has a curvature of a commonradius centered on the same axis. The ends of the slot H8 howeverdeviateoutwardly at both ends to permit travel in those portions of thelever |26. The lower end ofthe slot lig is carried inwardly in respectto the .axis of the shaft 6 to swing the arm l 2i accordingly.

Now, assuming that it is desired to interconnect the shaft 'i5 with therevolving hub 5t, the shaft i6 may be rocked by means of the lever il?in a clockwise direction, Fig. 9, to cause the shifting fork 82 to berocked also in a clockwise direction to shift the sleeve '.53 forwardlyaided bythe spring 83 to bring the wheel 'I9 into mesh and full seatingcondition within the hub 53. In order to prevent noise and securey easeof this operation, the shifting fork |08 may be initially rocked in aclockwise direction through the lever HQ to shift the plate 93 forwardlyand gently press the ring lef-l against the plate 97, to set up asliding frictional engagement therebetween tending to bring the speed ofthe shaft 73 into synchronism with the speed of the hub 53.

With these operations completed, the shifting fork 52 is left in theposition shown .in Fig. 9. Now should it be desired to bring the driveback the cam ||5 would again be shifted back to the position shown inFig. 10 aided if desired by operation of the stabilizer to permit easywithdrawal of the gear wheel 'i9 from the hub 53. l

To bring the various members into the reverse direction drive, the cam|5 is rocked counterclockwise to the position shown in Fig. 11, in goingto which position, the shifter fork 82 has been permitted to rock fromthe central portion of the cam slot I8 to swing suicently to permit thegear wheel 19 to return to its interengagement with the hub 53, and thesleeve S5 has been shifted forwardly along the shaft 'I3 to bring thegear 8l out of mesh with the gear wheel 88, and further to bring thegear 95 into mesh with the gear 9,5.

This takes care of normal driving operations. Sometimes it may happenthat a positive Inechanical drive is desirable as between the shaft 'i5and the driven shaft 33 as above indicated, for example, when the car isto be pushed in order to start the engine. Then the shifter fork 65 isrocked as previously described to bring the dogs E6 into drivingconnection with the abutments 6'! 0r ii depending upon which way vthecar is being pushed, that is, from the front or the rear,

While I have herein shown in more or less diagrammatic manner oneparticular form of the invention, I have made no attempt to show alubricating system for the various parts externally -from the spirit ofpeller Y mechanical meansentreno? Y of the .transmissionjhusing.12 noranexact mounting of be`a'rin"g`s' throughout the structure, since.such-'features donot per se enter into the invention and'. may be.vchanged vunder different applications.' Y Mechanicalchanges in theconstruction may n the invention, and I V therefore do not desire to be"beyond the limitations. as may bey imposedl by the following claims. j

I claim:

y l. Apower coupling comprising aA driving :im-

a driven turbine wheel; a driven shaft; mechanical means releasablyinterconnecting said wheel with said shaft; and stabilizer means yield'-ingly interconnecting 'said wheel and said shaft; said mechanical meanscomprising Yinterlockable abutments carried byffeach of Y.said wheelfand shaft; and means shiftable longitudinally of said shaft to engageand disengage said abutments; said shiftable means being independent inoperation fromrthfat of said stabilizer means.

2. A power coupling comprising a drivingV vimpeller; a driven turbinewheel; a driven shaft; A 4 releasably interconnecting said wheel withsaid shaft; and stabilizer means yieldingly interconnecting said wheeland said shaft; and means mechanically interlocking said impeller andsaid wheel; said mechanical interlocking means comprising a shiftabledog on one of the elements comprising the impeller and wheel and a dogabutment on the other; means mounting said dog to permit it to be rockedselectively to oppose rotation of the abutment carrying element.

3. A power coupling comprising a driving impeller; a driven turbinewheel; a driven shaft; mechanical means releasably interconnecting saidwheel with said shaft; and stabilizer means yieldingly interconnectingsaid wheel and said shaft; a reverse drive means normally disconnectedfrom said shaft; and commonly actuated means for releasing saidmechanical means and connecting said reverse drive means with saidshaft.

4. A power coupling comprising a driving impeller; a driven turbinewheel; a driven shaft;`

mechanicalmeans releasably interconnecting said wheel with said shaft;and stabilizer means yieldingly interconnecting said wheel and saidshaft; and means mechanically interlocking said impeller and said wheel;said impeller and said wheel axis; and said mechanical interlockingmeans comprising a dog carried by one hub, an abutment carried by theother hub, means for rocking the dog into the path of said abutment, andmeans normally holding the dog out of said path.

5. A power coupling comprising a driving impeller having a pair oflongitudinally opposing housing members joined together about a medianplane therebetween, an annular flange extending radially inwardly fromsaid junction, each of said members being bulged outwardly one from theother in outer portions thereof, vanes extending convexly in respect todirection of member rotation from inner central portions to said bulgeand thence by radial directions across said bulging portions to saidflange, said vanes of the two members being in opposed to another toleave a radial slot-like opening between the convex lengths and anapproximate ovate opening ybetween the radial lengths of the vanes; anda driven wheel comprising a disc in said slot opening rotatable normallyindependently of said impeller on an axis be employed l withouty'departing limitedY to Ythat lprecise form v mounted Aarounvdjthe 'dischaving a projected configuration matching Vapproximately that of saidAovateopeningsto perlmit relative travel, therethrough,

incommon therewithfand a plurality of buckets .peripheral portion ofsaid said `buckets being concave on their trailing sides.

65 A power coupling comprising a drivingV impeller having a 'pair oflongitudinally opposing housing members'joined together about a medianplane therebetween, an annular flange extending radially inwardly fromsaid junction, each of said members being bulged outwardly one from theother in outer portions thereof, vanes extending convexly in respect todirection of member rotation from inner central portions to said bulgeandv thence by radial directions across said bulging portions to saidflange, said vanes of the two Vmembers beingV in sets, one vane directlyopposed Y opening each having hubs rotatably on a common mounted aroundthe peripheral portion of said to another to leave a radial slot-likeopening between theconvex lengths and an approximate ovate openingbetween the radial lengths' of the vanes; and a driven wheel comprisinga disc'in said Yslot opening rotatable normally independently of saidimpeller on an axis in common therewith,:and a plurality of bucketsmounted around the peripheralportionof said disc having a projectedconfiguration matching approximately that of said ovate openings topermit relative travel therethrough, said buckets being concave on theirtrailing sides; each of said buckets being divided into two cups, one oneach side of said disc.

'7. A powercoupling comprising a driving impeller having a pair oflongitudinally opposing housing members joined together about a medianplane therebetween, an annular flange extending radially inwardly fromsaid junction, each of said members being bulged outwardly .one from theother in outer portions thereof, vanes extending convexly in respect todirection of member rotation from inner central portions to said bulgeand thence by radial directions across said bulging portions to saidflange, said vanes of the two members being in sets, one vane directlyopposed to another to leave a radial slot-like between the convexlengths and an approximate ovate opening between the radial lengths ofthe vanes; and a driven wheel comprising a'disc in said slot openingrotatable normally independently of said impeller on an axis pluralityof buckets disc having a projected configuration matching approximatelythat of said ovate openings to permit relative travel therethrough, saidbuckets being concave on their trailing sides; said disc having a slotentering from its peripheral edge, and each of said buckets having a webengaging across said slot, to have portions of the bucket extendsymmetrically from each side of the disc.

y8. A power coupling comprising a driving impeller having a pair oflongitudinally opposing housing members joined together about a medianplane therebetween, an annular flange extending radially inwardly fromsaid junction, each of said members being bulged outwardly one from theother in outer portions thereof; vanes extending convexly in respect todirection of member rotation from inner central portions to said bulgeand thence by radial directions across said bulging portions to saidflange, said vanes of the two members being in sets, one vane directlyopposed to another to leave a radial slot-like opening between theconvex lengths and an approximate 11 l ovate opening between the' radiallengths of the varies; and a driven wheel comprising afdisc in said slotopening rotatable normally independently oi said impeller on an axis incommon therewith, and a plurality of buckets mounted around theperipheral portion of said disc having a projected configurationmatching approximately that of said ovate openings to permit relativetravel therethrough, said buckets being' concave on their trailingsides; said disc having a. slot entering from its peripheral edge, 'andeach of said buckets having a web engaging 'across said slot, to haveportions of the bucket extend symmetrically from each side of the disc;said varies terminating at their inner ends short of their axis ofrotation to provide 'passageways circumferentially across and enteringbetween those ends.

9. The combination with fluid drive means including a driving impellerand a driven turbine 4 wheel; 'of abutments carried by the Wheel; adriven shaft axially directed theretoward; a sleeve longitudinallyshiftable Voi the shaft and drivingly connected therewith; a toothedmember xed to the sleeve to enga-ge with said abutments; a secondsleeve, slidably telescoping with said "caesaer 'rst sleeve 'anddrivingly connected therewith; a clutch member driven by said Wheel; asecond clutch member fixed to said second sleeve in opposition to saidrst clutch member; and transmission means including a reverse driveconnected to said driven shaft.

10. VThe combination with uid drive means including e. driving impellerand a driven turbine wheel; of abutments carried bythe whee1;'a drivenshaft axially directed theretoward; a sleeve longitudinally shiftable ofthe shaft and drivingly connected therewith; a toothed mem*u ber xed tothe sleeve to engage with said abut` ments; a second sleeve, slidablytelescoping with said rst sleeve and drivingly connected therewith; aclutch member driven by said Wheel; a second clutch member fixed to saidsecond sleeve in opposition to said rst clutch member;l and transmissionmeans including a reverse drive connected to said driven shaft; and ayielding,l vfloating member between said two clutch members normallyseparated from one of those members;

and Aseparate means operating each of said sleeves.

C. lVEANER.

